Retainer for ball-bearings.



S. SCHNEIDER.- RETAINER FOR BALL BEARINGS.

PPLIoATIoN FILED Amm, 1910.

1,006,688. Patented ont. 24, I1911.

UNITED. STATES PATENT orFIoE.

STEFAN SCHNEIDER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, xASSIGNQR 'ro frIrE UNITED STATES BALI;

BEARING MANUFACTURING oo MPANY, or OAK I'Anx, ILLINOIS, A coaPoaAfraoN.

0F ILLINOIS.

RETAINER Fon BALL-BEARINGS.

Application .tiled vAugust 3, 1 910. ,$eria1 No. 575,260.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEFAN SCHNEIDER, a

vsubjectxof the Emperor of Germany, and residing at Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in .Retainers for Ball- Bearings, of which the following is a complete specification. V,

The main objects of this invention are to provide a retainer for ball bearings which is especially adapted for the larger sized balls employed in heavy work; to provide a retainer' for ball bearings in which the spacers for the balls are approximately U shaped and-I are each attached to the retaining ring at two points to provide a rigid structure; and to provide a cheap, simple and strong retainer adapted to hold the balls so closely together that approximately 95% of the ball Space will be occupied by the balls.

A specific construction embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanyiing drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentaryl side elevation of one side. of a retainer embodied in this invention. Fig. 2 is'a fragmentary side elevation of the lopposite side of the retainer.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the retainer. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section of the retainer showing one of the spacers in elevation.

In the construction shown the retaining ring 1 is flattened in a plane at right angles .to its axis and is provided with two concentric rows of apertures in which are secured the spacers 2 vwhich all project from the same side ofthe ring. Said spacers are preferably formed of triangular iron bars of the proper length, which bars are bent to an approximately U shape. The central or re'- taining portion 3 of each spacer is bent in the form of a true circle, and the beveled faces 4 form seats for the balls 5. The ends 6 of the rods are brought comparatively close together and are bent outwardly from the central portion 3 and parallel with each fther, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. Each end 6 is provided with a stud 7 which is adapted to be secured in one of the apertures in the ring, which apertures are so arranged Athat the spacers lie in planes coinciding with the radii of the ring.

lVhen assembling the device Ithe first spacer is secured to the rin-g and a4 ball is placed in the seat on one side thereof and the next spacerthen secured in place and so on until the lastvspacer is reached, which spacer is then placed in position by placing its ends 6 between the last and first balls and forcing the spacer toward the ring. The beveled faces on said ends permit the spacers to be forced between the balls and into po- 4 sition for its studs 7 to be secured inithe ring. Should oneof the balls break while in the bearing the spacers may be sprung laterally enough to permit a new ball to be inserted, or one spacer adjacent to the place where the ball is to be inserted may be removed and after the ball has been placed the spacer may be replaced as before described.

The form of the spacers permits a maximum'amount of balls to bev contained in the retainer, and it also permits the retainer to be made very strong and ata minimum cost.

While I have shown but one embodiment of the invention it will be understood that various details of theconst'ruction Shown may be varied or omitted without departing from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Aretainer for ball bearings, comprising a ring, and a plurality of approximately U shaped spacers on the ring, each spacer having both its legs in alinement with the same radius of the ring,'said spacers being spaced equidistant apart on the ring an'd having.-

their legs beveled on both faces toward their inner edges.

2. A retainer for ball bearings, compris .t

ing a ring having-a plurality of sets of radially alined apertures therein, a plurality of U shaped spacers each secured in' one of said sets of apertures and having its legs in radial alinement on the ring, said spacers having their inner edges beveled on both Sides of the spacer for the full length thereof. f

3. A retainer for ball bearings, comprising a ring, and a plurality of ball 'spacers A mounted on the ring, each-spacer comprisingv a pair o f parallel legs connected at one end in radial alinement to thering and integrally connected together at their other end by a circular retaining portion, said retaining portion and' the legs being beveled on both `faces adjacent to their. inner edges.

4. A retainer for ball bearings, comprising a ring, anda plurality of ball spacers in the ring, each spacer comprising two paralscribed my name in the presence of two Wit lel legs vsecured at one end to the ring in nesses. vradial alinelnent and a circular retaining "portion integrally connected to the inner STEFAN SCHNEIDER' 5 .ends of said legs and opening through one Witnesses:

fside to Athe space between said legs. W. lV. VVITHENBURY,

In Witness whereof I have hereunto suhl ERNST GRlrrEL. 

